Cannabis plant named ‘Ecuadorian Sativa’

ABSTRACT

Unique herbaceous annual ‘ Cannabis sativa ’ female plants, having numerous glandular flowers in a congested and elongated inflorescence, hollow stems a characteristic of the fiber-producing strains of ‘ Cannabis sativa  ssp.  sativa ’ but absent in strains of ‘ Cannabis sativa  ssp.  indica .’ The plants are intoxicating, characteristic of ‘ Cannabis sativa , ssp.  indica ’, but absent in subspecies  sativa . The new strain has energizing and motivating psychoactive effects as opposed to the lethargy normally associated with ssp.  indica  and show hypotensive effects. Morphologically, the plants have a few branched hairs on the stem that are not characteristic of the species, but are ordinary in most other respects.

The Cannabis plant named ‘Ecuadorian Sativa’ having a laboratory name of‘CTS-A’ a variety of a cross between ‘Cannabis sativa; ssp. Sativa’ and‘Cannabis sativa ssp. Indica (Lam.)’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a novel hybrid of a cross between individualsthought to be of the two subspecies of ‘Cannabis sativa L.’, ‘Cannabissativa; ssp. sativa’ and ‘Cannabis sativa ssp. Indica’.

HISTORICAL NOTE

Human cultivation history of Cannabis dates back 8000 years. Schultes, RE. 1970. Random thoughts and queries on the botany of Cannabis. Pages11-38 in: CRB Joyce, and SH Curry eds., THE BOTANY AND CHEMISTRY OFCANNABIS. J. & A. Churchill. London, England. Hemp cloth recovered inEurope dates back 6000 years. (Small, E, Beckstead, H D, and Chan, A,29(3) ECONOMIC BOTANY 29(3): 219-232 (1975). The written record of thepharmacologic properties of Cannabis goes back more than 4000 years. Ti,H. 2737 BC. NEI JING SU WEN HUANG TI (Yellow Emperor's Classic onInternal Medicine; referred to without citation in Small et al. 1975Supra).

The taxonomy and nomenclature of the highly variable genus Cannabis(Emboden, W A, 29(3) ECONOMIC BOTANY 304-310 (1974)); (Small, E andCronquist, A, 25(4) TAXON 405-435 (1976)); Small E and Cronquist, A26(1) TAXON 110 (1977)); (Hillig, K W and Mahlberg, P G, 91(6) AmericanJournal of Botany 966-975 (2004)), remains in question. This is in spiteof the fact that its formal scientific name, ‘Cannabis sativa L.’,assigned by Carolus Linneaus (Linnaeus, C, 2 SPECIES PLANTARUM 1027(1753), Salvius, Stockholm. Facsimile edition, 1957-1959. Ray Society,London, U.K.), is one of the oldest established names in botanicalhistory and is still accepted to this day. Another species in the genus,‘Cannabis indica Lam.’ was formally named somewhat later (de Lamarck, JB, 1(2) ENCYCLOPEDIE METHODIQUE DE BOTANIQUE, 694-5,(1785)), but isstill very old in botanical history.

Three other species names were proposed in the 1800s to distinguishplants with presumably different characteristics (C. macrosperma Stokes,C. chinensis Delile, C gigantean Vilmorin), none of which are acceptedtoday, although the epithet “indica” lives on as a subspecies of C.sativa (‘C. sativa ssp. indica Lam.’. Small and Cronquist 1976 Supra).

In the 20th century, two new names were added to the liturgy of proposed‘Cannabis species: C. ruderalis’ Janischevsky and a hybrid, ×‘C.intersita’ Sojak. Small, E, Jui, P Y, and Lefkovitch, L P, 1(1)SYSTEMATIC BOTANY 1(1): 67-84 (1976); Small and Cronquist 1976, Supra.Further, numerous names have been proposed for horticultural variants of‘Cannabis’ but as of 1976, “very few of these have been validlypublished as formal taxa under the International Code of BotanicalNomenclature.” Small and Cronquist 1976 Supra. Moreover, other recentwork continues to focus on higher-order evolutionary relationships ofthe genus. Cannabis has been variously ascribed as belonging to themulberry family (Moraceae) (Engler, H G A, Ulmaceae, Moraceae andUrticaceae, pages 59-118 (1889) in: A. Engler and K. Prantl eds., DIENATURLICHEN PFLANZENFAMILIEN 3(1). W. Engelmann, Leipzig, Germany; Judd,W S, Sanders, R W, and Donoghue, M J, 5 HARVARD PAPERS IN BOTANY 5: 1-51(1994)); nettle family

(Urticaceae) (Berg, CC, Systematics and phylogeny of the Urticales,pages 193-220, in: P.R. Crane and S. Blackmore eds., EVOLUTION,SYSTEMATIC, AND FOSSIL HISTORY OF THE HAMAMELIDAE, VOL. 2, HIGHERHAMAMELIDAE, Clarendon Press, Oxford, U.K. (1989); Humpries, C J andBlackmore, S, A review of the classification of the Morcaceae, pages267-277 In: Crane and Blackmore 1989 id.); and most recently in its ownfamily with hops (Humulus), the Cannabaceae, or hemp family. Sytsma, KJ, et al, 89(9) AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 1531-1546 (2002).). While thework of Small and Cronquist 1976 Supra, seemed to effectively confinethe genus to a single species with 2 subspecies (C. sativa s., C. s.indica), each with two varieties (C. s. s. var. sativa, C. s. s. var.spontanea; C. s. i. var. indica, C. s. i. var. Kafiristanica) largely onthe basis of chemotaxonomy and interfertility of all forms, more recentwork (Systma et al. 2002, Supra), proposes a two-species concept,resurrecting the binomial C. indica Lam. Since Sytsma et al. 2002provides no key for discriminating between the species, the dichotomouskey of Small and Cronquist 1976 Supra, which accounts for all forms innature, whether wild or domesticated, was used to classify thecharacteristics of the plants described herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the breeding program which produced the novel plant ofthis invention was primarily to develop a plant having the followingcharacteristics: (a) medicinal properties that included hypotensiveactivity; (b) psychoactive properties that motivated and energized,rather than creating lethargy, sleepiness, and increased foodconsumption.

The biologically active chemicals found in plants, phytochemicals,affect the normal structure or function of the human body and in somecases treat disease. The mechanisms for the medicinal and psychoactiveproperties of a cannabis plant, like any medicinal herb, are thepharmacologic effects of its phytochemicals and for a medical cannabisplant, the key phytochemicals are cannabinoids and terpenes.Tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, is the primary psychoactive and medicinalcannabinoid and is the result of the decarboxylation oftetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A), its acidic precursor. THC-A,(6ar,10ar)-1-hydroxy-6,6,9-trimethyl-3-pentyl-6a,7,8,10a-tetrahydro-6h-benzochromene-2-carboxylicacid, is found in the trichomes of the plant and converted into THC,which actually exists in only minute quantities in the living plant,after harvest and drying. Cannabigerol (CBG), Resorcinol,2-(3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl)-5-pentyl-, is not consideredpsychoactive, is known to block the psychoactive effects of THC. and isconsidered medically active in a variety of conditions. Its precursor,cannabigerolic acid, CBG-A,(E)-3-(3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl)-2,4-dihydroxy-6-pentylbenzoic acid,is being studied medically. Cannabichromene, CBC, and cannabidiol, CBD,are both non-psychoactive and end products of CBG metaolism, like THC,that are used medically Cannabichromenic acid; CBC-A,5-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)-7-pentyl-chromene-6-carboxylicacid, is acidic cannabichromene.

‘Equadorian Sativa’ has been shown by laboratory testing by SteephillLabs to contain cannabinoid CBG-A at 2.49 mg/g, tetrahydrocannibidiolTHC-A at 139.46 mg/g, THC at 2.24 mg/g and cannabinoid CBC-A at 1.75mg/g. ‘Equadorian Sativa’ cannabinoid content is dominated by its highcontent of THC (2.24 mg/g) and THC-A (139.46 mg/g).

Most varieties of high potency cannabis contain large quantities ofthree specific terpenes as well as various assortments of others. Thosethree terpenes are Beta-Myrcene, Beta Caryophyllene and Linalool. Forinstance, the variety CT3 has a profile with a high level ofBeta-Myrcene, a moderate amount of Beta Caryophyllene and a small amountof Linalool, and a moderate amount of Limonene. ‘Equadorian Sativa’ hasan unusual complement of terpenes. There are small levels of BetaMyrcene, Beta Caryophyllene and Linalool, but the Limonene level isextraordinarily high at a level of 4.53, 10 to 20 times the usual range.This sets ‘Equadorian Sativa’ apart from other varieties in its odor,the effects on mood and mentation and its medical qualities.

Physically, there are indications that its use may prevent some cancersand may cause apoptosis of cancer cells in vivo. There is a goodpossibility that the high levels of limonene may slow down the build-upof plaque in the arteries and reduce the effect of low-densitylipo-proteins on the circulatory system. Indications are that‘Equadorian Sativa’ has many medical qualities that make it an importanttool to maintain health and deal with illness.

The inventor cultivated various strains of ‘Cannabis sativa’ in aneffort to create a strain best suited to control his own disorder. Thisplant was derived from a female said to be of a strain calledcolloquially, ‘Celestial Temple Sativa’ an individual grown in Ecuadorthat reached a height of 23 ft (7 m), and was of the typical subspecies,‘Cannabis sativa ssp. sativa’. The male parent is said to have been of astrain known colloquially as ‘island sweet skunk’ and reportedly tobelonged to the subspecies ‘Cannabis sativa ssp. indica (Lam.)’. Smalland Cronquist 1976 Supra. Neither ‘Celestial Temple Sativa’ nor ‘islandsweet skunk’ has been patented in the United States or elsewhere, norare they the subject of any pending patent applications of which theinventor is aware.

The particular plant disclosed herein was discovered in the area wherethe inventor was intentionally cross-pollinating and cultivating plantsof cross between ‘Celestial Temple Sativa’ and ‘island sweet skunk’described above using standard Mendelian breeding procedures well knownto those of ordinary skill in the art. This resulted in the F1generation of the inventor's cross, named ‘Pleadian’. It was in theproximity of plants of the ‘Pleadian’ variety that had becomehermaphroditic, in the inventor's garden in Lake Tahoe Calif. that hediscovered one female plant that could only be reproduced assexually, bytaking cuttings and that plant is the origin of this remarkable newstrain. The female plant was discovered in a section of the inventor'shydroponic garden. The plant has been and continues to be assexuallyreproduced by cutting at the inventor's garden in Lake Tahoe Calif.

Comparison of the Steephill Laboratory terpenoid/cannabinoid profiles of‘Equadorian sativa’ with other plants with the same parents, ‘islandsweet skunk’ and ‘Celestial Temple Sativa’ reveals that this plant,‘Equadorian sativa’ has a phenotypically unique profile, particularinsofar as its levels of limonene. Two plants with the same parents wereknown by the laboratory names of CTK and CT3 and ‘Equadorian sativa’ wastested by the laboratory name of CTA. Limonene found in ‘Equadoriansativa’, were 45.35 mg/g while CTK and CT3 were only 2.24 mg/g and 1.03mg/g respectfully. ‘Equadorian sativa’ was shown to have substantiallylower levels of cannabigerolic acid (CBG-A). cannabigerol (CBG) andBeta-Myrcene. ‘Equadorian sativa’ had levels of only 2.49 mg/g of CBG-Awhile CTK had 6.1 mg/g CBG-A and CT3 had 8.13 mg/g of CBG-A. ‘Equadoriansativa’ had only 0.001 mg/g of CBG while CTK had 0.3 mg/g CBG and CT3had 0.54 mg/g of CBG. ‘Equadorian sativa’ had only 1.1 mg/g Beta-Myrcenewhile CTK had 12.01 mg/g Beta-Myrcene and CT3 had 11.44 mg/gBeta-Myrcene.

This data is presented in tabular form in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Plant CTA CTK CT3 Terpinoid or Cannabinoid mg/g mg/g mg/g CBG-A2.49 6.1 8.31 CBG 0.001 0.3 0.54 Beta Myrcene 1.1 12.02 11.44 Limonene45.35 2.24 1.03

Asexual reproduction, colloqually known as “cloning” is a process wellknown to those of ordinary skill in the art of gardening and includesthe following steps:

Step 1: From the female plant whose genetic profile is sought to beexactly reproduced, a 1″- 2″ cutting is taken;

Step 2: The cutting of the desired plant and is placed in a rootingsolution that may be water, or a B1 vitamin that is generally thecontent of a rooting or cloning powder or gel;

Step 3: The cutting and rooting solution are placed into a rootingmedium such as rock wool and RAPID ROOTER® a peat moss product availableat hydroponics stores, gardening supply stores, and from many Internetmerchants and must be water retaining so that the roots can take waterup into the leaves;Step 4: The cutting in rooting solution and rooting medium is placedunder a humidity dome that may be an inverted plastic cup or isavailable in kits 1′-2′ long with a clear plastic dome to keep thehumidity as high as possible to avoid the leaves drying before thecutting roots to insure viability;Step 5: A a fluorescent light is placed just over the humidity dome thatmay be a generic work light available at hardware stores;Step 6: One to two times a day, the humidity dome is removed for 30seconds to insure the exchange of depleted air with fresh air toreplenish the CO2.Step 7: After maintaining this cutting in this manner, keeping therooting medium wet at all times, for 5-14 days until root formationStep 8: The rooted plants are maintained under flourescent highintensity lights in a soil-less medium, with standard hydroponicfertilizers, for 14 weeks;The plant observed and identified in the photographs was cultivated inthis manner at a temperature between 76 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit andwas 14 weeks of age. The new plant differs from its parents and relatedcultivars in that it has energizing and motivating psychoactive effectsas opposed to the lethargy normally associated with ssp. indica and theinstant plant also shows hypotensive effects.

Observation of the all female progeny of the original plant hasdemonstrated that this new and distinct variety has fulfilled theobjectives and that its distinctive characteristics are firmly fixed andhold true from generation to generation vegetatively propagated from theoriginal plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew ‘Equadorian sativa’ plants. These photographs show the colors astrue as it is reasonably possible to obtain in reproductions of thistype. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description which accuratelydescribe the colors of the new plant.

Sheet 1 ‘Cannabis CTS-A’ shows the flower of the ‘Equadorian sativa’plant in the midst of leaves from above.

The photograph at the bottom of the Sheet 2, ‘Cannabis CTS-A’ comprisesa close-up view of the flowering plant of ‘Equadorian sativa’;

Sheet 3, ‘Cannabis CTS-A’ comprises a slightly oblique and very closeview of the ‘Equadorian sativa’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar of‘Equadorian sativa’.

-   The plant:    -   -   Type (life form and habit).—Herbaceous tap-rooted annual.        -   Classification.—Cultivars of ‘Cannabis sativa’, possessing            traits of the subspecies, ‘C. sativa ssp.. indica (Lam.)’            When navigating the key of Small and Cronquist, Id., the            first couplet separates individuals based on their ability            to intoxicate. This cultivated line possesses intoxicating            properties, and so the subspecies sativa and its varieties            (var. sativa and spontanea) are eliminated from            consideration. Within the next couplet distinguishing within            the subspecies indica, fruits are required to separate            between the varieties (var. indica and var. kafiristanica).            No fruits were found on any of the individuals observed, and            so discrimination between the varieties is impossible with            this key. Nevertheless, cross-section of the stem revealed            that the stem is hollow, a characteristic known to occur            with the fiber-producing strains of C. sativa ssp. sativa,            and thought to be absent from the intoxicating taxa in the            genus. As such, these plants appear to be hybrids of the two            subspecies of ‘Cannabis sativa’, e.g., ‘C. sativa s.’ and            ‘C. s. indica’.-   Origin, form, and growth characteristics:    -   -   Origin.—Whole Plant Natural Mutation of the F1 cultivar            Pleadian.        -   Propagation.—The strain is perpetuated solely by cuttings.        -   Mature habit.—Tap-rooted annual, with extensive fibrous root            system, upright and much branched aerial portion of plant.            The growth form of all cloned individuals seen (n=10) was            highly manipulated by systematic removal of terminal buds,            inducing a greater branching habit. Overall size in this            form varies in the population from 1.6-1.9 m tall and            0.3-0.4 m across at their widest point. Many petiole scars            on stems from systematic removal of large shade leaves. In            this habit, these are obviously very vigorous annual herbs.        -   Growth.—Very vigorous annuals herbs.-   Foliage: Leaves.    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Form.—Palmately compound, (3) 5-7 (9) linear-lanceolate            leaflets with glandular hairs.        -   Size.—Remaining (those still present when plants were            observed) shade leaves, whole.        -   Leaf (with petiole).—18-20 cm long; middle (largest) leaflet            10-12 cm long, 2.8 cm wide.        -   Margins.—Coarsely serrate.        -   Color.—Top — dark green, Pantone PMS 364.        -   Color.—Bottom — light green, Pantone PMS 377.        -   Veins, bottom.—Pronounced midrib, with straight axial            branches at about 45° angle, toward distal end of leaflet.        -   Color.—Light green, Pantone PMS 377.        -   Petiole.—Length: 9-10 cm at maturity.        -   Color.—Light green, Pantone PMS 377 as in the lower leaf            surfaces.        -   Stipules.—Sometimes present at base of petiole, 0.5 cm long,            bulbous bases, acuminate (tapering concave to apex).        -   Aroma.—Strongly mephitic, with hints of limonene, a cyclic            terpene in Pinus ponderosa.-   Stem: Hollow, large, rugose, punctuate, minutely glandular, ribbed,    with ribs running parallel to stem, 2.0-2.5 cm diameter at base.    -   -   Color.—Bottom — light green, Pantone PMS 377. A few            eglandular branched hairs.        -   Height.—1.5-1.9 m at anthesis following heavy pruning regime            in cultivation.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Elongated compound cymes or panicles,            forming spikes from 0.3-0.5 m in length, densely packed with            individual small pistillate flowers subtended by small            leaves, these with densely packed capitate glandular            trichomes.-   Flowers:    -   -   Corolla.—Petals and calyx unified and collectively appressed            to and surrounding the ovary.        -   Color.—Light green, Pantone 372.        -   Diameter.—Individual pistillate flowers 2-3 mm, cyme 5-10 cm            diameter.        -   Shape.—Urceolate (urn-shaped).        -   Involucral bracts.—Absent, but two highly glandular,            urceolate bracteoles enclose the flower.        -   Calyces.—Appressed to the base of the ovary with the corolla            as a unified perianth.        -   Color.—Green, Pantone PMS 364.        -   Filaments.—N/A — no staminate flowers observed.        -   Stigma.—Length 5-7 mm, ca. 1 mm wide at base, tapering to            distal end. Densely covered with minute (<1 mm) soft,            straight hairs.        -   Color.—Lemony white, Pantone PMS 372, drying slowly to red            from apex to base after anthesis.        -   Number.—2.        -   Staminate column.—N/A — no staminate flowers observed.        -   Fruit.—An achene in this genus; however, no fruits were seen            as all pistillate flowers were sterile.        -   Pollen.—N/A — no staminate flowers observed. Color: N/A — no            staminate flowers observed.        -   Petalage.—The plant is essentially without petals            (apetalous); these fused and appressed to the base of the            ovary with the calyx as the perianth.-   Flowers:    -   -   Pedicel.—flowers are essentially sessile (attached directly            to the stem), and as such have no pedicel. The color chart            referenced is standard hexadecimal Web Pantone Color Chart            well known to those of ordinary skill in Internet web site            design.-   General characteristics and culture:    -   -   Blooming period.—Cuttings after rooting will bloom in 9-11            weeks when <12 hrs light applied to induce flowering.        -   Hardiness.—Probably fairly hardy; however, hardiness in            nature unknown as this plant has only been cultivated in            controlled conditions.        -   Breaking action.—Stems are fibrous, strong, and flexible;            highly resistant to breakage.        -   Rooting.—>95% success rate with cuttings using CLONEX® a            vitamin B1 rooting compound.        -   Growth regulator.—No growth regulators or other hormones            used in cultivation.        -   Shipping tolerance.—Not applicable. This plant has never            been shipped and is not intended for live shipment or            household cultivation.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of ‘Cannabis’ plant, asshown and described.